Cross-LoC trade, bus service to resume today

It Is A Healthy Sign: Kichloo

SALIL RAINA

Poonch, Jan 27: After a month-long hostility and escalation of tension along the Line of Control, the cross-border trade and travel is likely to resume from Monday. “The cross-LoC bus service and trade would resume from January 28 along Chakan-da-Bagh crossing point in Poonch district,” the Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Sajjad Kichloo, told Greater Kashmir. He said the administration this side was “ready to restart” the trade and travel, which was halted due to the recent escalation of tension along the LoC. Kichloo, who is also Minister of State for Home, said that as of now things seem to be calm on the borders and resumption of cross-LoC trade and travel was a healthy sign. According to the district administration here, the tensions have eased and the routine trade and travel between the two sides would resume from Monday. Krishan Lal, Custodian Cross LoC trade, said, “We have received intimation from other side on restarting bus service and trade from tomorrow.” He said around 108 persons from this side, who had traveled to the other side of LoC, and 109 residents of Pakistan Administered Kashmir, were expected to change sides on Monday. “84 PaK residents, who are at present here, are also due for return as their time of stay has finished,” he said. According to sources, this turnaround came after the Indian and Pakistani armies exchanged sweets along the LoC on Saturday as a “mark of goodwill gesture” on the occasion of India's 64th Republic Day. The cross-LoC trade and travel, which was described as one of the biggest confidence building measures, was suspended earlier this month after killing of two Indian soldiers by the Pakistani troops. Pakistan had refused to open the gates at Chakan-da-Bagh along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. India-Pakistan relations were hit after New Delhi accused Pakistani troops of brutally killing two Indian soldiers close to the LoC and beheading one of them. Pakistan accused Indian troops of killing two Pakistani soldiers on two separate days. In retaliation to the beheading and the mutilation of a soldier, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared that there can be “no business as usual” with Pakistan. The Indian and Pakistani armies have been traditionally greeting each other on the LoC, which divides Jammu and Kashmir between the two countries, ever since a ceasefire came into effect in 2003.

SHAHID RAFIQ

Kupwara, Jan 27: This frontier district observed a complete shutdown on Sunday to pay homage to 27 civilians killed on this day allegedly by Army for observing shutdown on January 26. The strike call was More

BRAVING COLD, THOUSANDS OF DEVOTEES PARTICIPATE IN NISHAT MARCH

SYED IMRAN ALI HAMDANI

Srinagar, Jan 27: Braving bone-chilling cold, thousands of devotees on Sunday participated in processions organized in connection with the Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) celebrations. Main procession was More

Amendment in Panchayati Raj Act

AKSHAY AZAD

Jammu, Jan 27: A four-member committee looking into the suggestions for incorporating various provisions in the existing J&K Panchayati Raj Act, is likely to submit its report to the government within More

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Lahore, Jan 27: Pakistan's National Assembly will be dissolved before March 16 and the date for the next general election will be announced in the coming ten days, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira More

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